ABOUT ISRAEL, PALESTINIANS AND PEACE

Israel has a new government — but how much difference this will make to the prospects for peace is in doubt. In Gaza, Hamas emerged from its recent 11-day clash with Israel eager for confrontation, repeatedly launching incendiary balloons across the border. Israel has retaliated with airstrikes. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, nearly 17 years into what was meant to be a four-year term, recently suspended elections yet again. Beset by corruption and infighting, Palestinian leaders have offered no realistic proposals and little sign they could uphold a deal if one was struck. …

… Israel should avoid undermining future negotiations, for instance by evicting Palestinians from areas critical to a Palestinian state, expanding settlements in such areas, or annexing territory outright. Israel’s leaders should cooperate with the U.S., Egypt and others to rebuild Gaza without strengthening Hamas, and expand economic opportunities for Palestinians in the West Bank. They should do all they can to relieve the daily indignities that fuel Palestinian anger — halting home demolitions, allowing more building permits, and relaxing trade restrictions and limits on movement.

The U.S. should work with its Arab allies to reinforce these efforts. The administration should encourage Saudi Arabia and others to reward Israeli actions by moving toward normalizing ties. And, perhaps most important, the U.S. should press Egypt and Qatar to use their leverage to rein in Hamas and force Palestinians to hold new elections and unify their leadership with candidates who forswear violence against Israelis. If Palestinians want Israel’s new government to work for peace, they’ll have to help.